Toothbrush



P. B. BURLEIGH.l

ooHRusH.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 26| 191B.

1,327,807, Patented Jan. 13, 1920.

.ments in tooth brushes, and it is an object PAUL B. BURLEIIIGH,OFSOMAHA, NEBRASKA.

TooTHBRUsH.

Specification of Letterslatent. Patented Jan. 13, 1920.

Application led October 26, 1918. Serial No. 259,820.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, PAUL B. BURLEIGH,

'a citizen of the United States, residing at Omaha, in the county ofDouglas and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Toothbrushes, of which the following is a specification,reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improveof the invention to provide anovel and iniproved device of this general character wherein the brushhead is flexible, so that the cleansing operation may be materiallyfacilitated.

A further object of the invention is the provision of improvedmeans, forconnecting the handle, and the brush end of the tooth brush. In carryingout this object it is the aim to provide a. tubular thimble` havingmeans between the ends of the thimble, for separating the handle fromthe body of the brush head.

A further object of the invention is toI provide stitfening means,consisting of a metal member or rod, preferably steel embedded in thebrush head. One end of this member or rod is cylindrical, and extends tothe rear end of the brush head, and in close position to the separatingmeans between the brush head and the handle, and also within thethimble. This construction insures the strength and rigidity. at thepoint where the brush head and the thimble are telescopieally united. Ata point a short distance beyond the thimble the metallic rod or membergradually tapers` which allows the greater end porton of the rubberbrush head to resiliently yield, and vet at the same time insuresufiicient rigidity, to cause the bristles of the brush to bear firmlyupon the teeth while the brush is in use. The resiliency of the greaterend portion of theI brush head, allows the greater portion to bc curvedor disposed, in order to separate the bristles of the brush, tofacilitate cleaning.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in thecombination and ar-l rangement of the several parts of my improved toothbrush whereby certain important advantages are attained and the devicerendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient andadvantageous for use, as will be hereinafter ,more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will i hereinafter be definitelyclaimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will nowproceed to dece l scribe the same with reference to the accom-J panyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is aview in side elevation of a tooth brush constructed inaccordance with an embodiment. of my invent-ion. the second position ofthe head or back being indicated by dotted lines; and A Fig. 2 is anenlarged fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly in'section ofmy improved brush as herein embodied.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings. 1 denotcsa brush head .orback formed of rubber or other similar tiexible or resilient material.and which has set or otherwise attached thereto the bristles 2.

3 denotes a thimble or ferrule provided at its opposite ends with thesockets 4 and. 5. An end portion of the head or back 1 is itted wit-hinthe forward socket 3, while the second or opposite. socket l is adaptedto receive an end portion of the handle 6.

Extending longitudinally of the head or back 1 and embedded therein isan elongated resilient reinforcing rod 7 preferably formed of steel, andwhich is tapered toward its outer end whereby the head or back 1 isgiven suflicient strength, and which serves to constantly urge the heador back l 1n one direction or ina direction toward the work when thebrush is in use.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that atoothbrush constructed in accordance with my invention is particularlywell adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility withwhich it` may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obviousthat my invention is susceptible of some change and modifica#correspondingly `with the portion that extends at an obtuse angle,thereby affording resiliency for said portion, whereby said portion mayyield when urging the bristles toward their work, a handle for the head,and means for uniting the head and the handle, said means being sopositioned with relation to the rear portionof the embedded means, as toinsure strength and rigidity at the point of connection of the unitingmeans and the head.

2. The combination with a pliable tooth brush head, provided with brushbristles and having a portion extending at an obtuse angle to the rearportion of the head, of re silient means embedded in the head andcorresponding in shape thereto and tapering correspondingly with theportion that extends at an obtuse angle,\tlereby a'ording resiliency forsaid portion, whereby said portion may yield, when urging the bristlestotgard their work, a handle for the head,

an' a thimble into the opposite end of which the handle and the head arerespectively telescopically inserted, thereby. uniting the =ble -beingso positioned with relation to the embedded means, as-to insure strengthand rigidity at the point of connection of th head with the thimble.'

3. The combination with a pliable tooth brush head, provided with atapering part signature in the presence of two witnesses.

PAUL B. BURLEIGH. Witnesses:

CLIFFORD N. FORBES, JACOB GEHRIG.

25 handle and the head, one end of -the thim

